Romantic relationships and adjustment problems in China: The moderating effect of classroom romantic context

Abstract

Theoretical and empirical research has shown that adolescent romantic relationships are associated with a wide range of developmental outcomes, including adverse consequences. The present study used a hierarchical linear model to examine the moderating effect of classroom romantic context on the association between adolescent romantic relationships and adjustment problems. Data were collected from 4776 Chinese adolescents across 106 classes and from 47 schools. The participants' ages ranged from 12 to 18 years. The results indicated that romantic involvement and breakups were associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms and delinquent behaviors. Moreover, the association between breakups and depressive symptoms depended on the classroom romantic context. Specifically, we found that adolescents who experienced breakups showed fewer depressive symptoms in classrooms where romantic relationships were common among classmates than in those classrooms where romantic relationships were rare among classmates. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Exploring Mexican American adolescent romantic relationship profiles and adjustment

“…Previous studies indicated that romantic relationship involvement was associated with lower academic performance (for girls only; Brendgen et al, 2002), greater externalizing symptoms (Hou et al, 2013), and more sexual partners (for those who had a serious relationship before age 16; Zimmer-Gembeck & Collins, 2008); however, the current study's results illustrated that these associations may be more complex further supporting the need for researchers to use person-centered analytic techniques. For example, adolescents with higher quality romantic relationships reported greater academic self-efficacy than those with both satisfactory and lower quality romantic relationships.…”

Romantic breakup distress in university students: A narrative review

“…These data come from adolescents from China where the incidence of romantic relationships in adolescence is lower than the incidence in the U.S.(16% males, 12% females as opposed to 53% males and 67% females in the US) (Hou et al 2013). Nonetheless, they are consistent with data from the U.S., suggesting that adolescent romantic relationships are associated with adjustment problems.…”

Romantic involvement and adolescents' academic and psychosocial functioning in Chinese societies

“…Our data revealed that a substantial proportion of current or past daters among Chinese adolescents (approximately one third), especially among Taiwanese teenagers. Such prevalence is similar to Chen et al's (2009) findings among Beijing adolescents (25% to 30%) and higher than Hou et al (2013) and Li et al's (2010) findings (10% to 20%). Such discrepancy could be attributed to regional difference given that Shanghai and Taiwan, like Beijing, are highly modernized compared to the areas that the Hou et al (2013) and Li et al (2010) studied and possibly have more liberal romantic values.…”